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Causes: Saturday, July 19, 2014

From staff reports
10:16 p.m. CDT July 18, 2014

Lt. Cmdr. Kendra Pennington is the 2013 Military Big of the Year. On hand for the award presentation were, from left, Marketing Assistant Kristy Craig, case Manager Kimi Lirette and programs Vice President Krissy Smith, all with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida.
(Photo:
Special to the News Journal
)

Our community has a generosity of spirit throughout the year. Here are good things happening in the area, opportunities to help organizations trying to make life brighter for people in need and various ways for you to become a volunteer:

Thank you for giving

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida has chosen Lt. Cmdr. Kendra Pennington as the 2013 Military Big of the Year. She was presented the Ron Mobayed Award at her detaching command June 9 at the Naval Hospital of Pensacola.

Pennington was matched with her Little Sister in November 2012 and has played an integral role in her life. After growing up in a home filled with neglect, violence, abuse and instability, the one positive and consistent thing in her life is her Big Sister, who stayed by her side and gave her hope and comfort.

The award was established as a memorial to Lt. Ronald Joseph Mobayed, who was an outstanding Big Brother while stationed in Pensacola for flight training in the early 1990s. Tragically, Mobayed and his crew were killed in the line of duty on October 3, 1995. This award is presented to the Big who exemplifies the spirit of Mobayed through their commitment to their Little, the organization and to the children in our community.

• With the support and generosity of the community, associates and care partners, Bay Breeze Senior Living & Retirement Center raised $5,000 at its seventh annual barbeque for the Eagle Fund at the Andrews Institute.

The Andrews Institute is home to wounded warriors looking for a place to recover and rehabilitate after they return home. Much like Bay Breeze Senior Living and Rehabilitation Center, the Andrews Institute focuses on the medical care and treatment of each patient to build a healthier community and ultimately a healthier country for generations to come.

Events that help

• The Filipino-American Association of Pensacola is holding a yard and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at its community center, 234 W. Oakfield Road.

Proceeds will go toward repairs of the community center, which was severely damaged by the April floods.

Featured food items include halo halo for $2 and a combination plate of barbecue, lumpia, pancit and fried rice for $7.

• Local thespians have come together to read and interpret one of William Shakespeare's lesser-known works, "King John," in a project benefiting the Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Co.

The performance will be at 7 p.m. July 26 at the Hagler Auditorium at Pensacola State College. Suggested donation for admission is $10. The event is being sponsored by Gulf Coast Community Bank.

The Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Company is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing teens in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with instruction and performance opportunities that lead to their significant growth as artists, community members and human beings. Each season, the organization chooses a core company that performs at local fairs and festivals, giving teens a taste of what it's like to be a professional, working actor. In their conservatory classes, students learn all aspects of performance, including voice and speech, movement, acting, stage combat and textual interpretation.

Visit setsco.org for more information.

• Piccadilly Restaurants is encouraging children to read with the second year of their Back to Books summer reading program, which rewards a free kid's meal to children who complete a reading log of 10 books.

In addition to the Back to Books program, Piccadilly Restaurants has renewed their partnership with Reading Is Fundamental to help children in need. Throughout July, Piccadilly Restaurant guests will have the opportunity to make a $1 donation to support the work of RIF — the nation's largest children's literacy organization working to get high-quality, free books to children in underserved communities. A donation wall with the names of donors will be on display in each restaurant.

"The positive reinforcement that Back to Books offers kids for continuing to read throughout the summer will encourage healthy reading habits that will stay with children for years to come," said Tom Sandeman, Piccadilly's CEO. "We're excited about the opportunity to impact literacy through continuing our partnership with RIF for the second year in a row."

Back to Books reading logs are available at Piccadilly Restaurant, 3300 N. Pace Blvd. in Town and Country Plaza. Once the reading log is completed, it can be turned in for a free kid's meal.

Seeking donations

• Pensacola Cooks, 3670 Barrancas Ave., is offering continuous support to the local St. Vincent DePaul Society's thrift stores and "Build A Box" program, which helps those devastated by a disaster or poverty put their homes back together.

If you are replacing kitchen utensils, dishes or small hand-held appliances, consider dropping off your gently used items at the community donation shelves at Pensacola Cooks.

For more information, call Pensacola Cooks at 512-4242.

• The Fly Fishers of Northwest Florida is casting for new members, donations or those who just want to participate in worthwhile activities and camaraderie.

The group is proud to be affiliated with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a national organization dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of active and non-active duty military personnel.

The local program, with the assistance of Project Healing Waters, teaches how to tie flies, build custom rods and fly cast as a form of therapy. In addition, they participate in fresh and saltwater fly fishing trips.

The group meets three times a month: 10 a.m. on the first Friday at the VA Clinic (JACC); and 6 p.m. the first and third Mondays at Bayview Senior Citizens Center.

Check out their activities at www.ffnwf.org or www.projecthealingwaters.org.

Charities, nonprofit groups, churches and other established organizations are invited to send information on charitable opportunities to causes@pnj.com. The column runs on Saturdays in Coast Life. Please include how to help, with event information if applicable, and contact information for an organizer in case we have questions. The list will include fundraisers; food, coat, toy and supply drives; and volunteer service requests and training opportunities.